For the Dallas Wings it's a roster decision but in the battle of the codes in Australia it could be a blow to basketball.
WNBA club Dallas Wings waived Olympian and AFLW star Erin Phillips on Thursday morning (AEST) as they cut back their roster to 12 players for the new season, which begins on Sunday.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
- Video duration
- 06:11
FootyFix: Can the Eagles beat Western ...
FootyFix: Can the Eagles beat Western Bulldogs?
Rohan Connolly previews all the footy action ahead of round 8 in the AFL.
Up Next
One man, four mascots
- Video duration
- 01:47
- Video duration
- 01:47
One man, four mascots
One man, four mascots
Simon Lumbus switches is the mascot for the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers, Perth Wildcats and Perth Glory.
Up Next
Hardwick: Blakely can try to tag Martin
- Video duration
- 00:21
- Video duration
- 00:21
Hardwick: Blakely can try to tag Martin
Hardwick: Blakely can try to tag Martin
While Tigers coach Damien Hardwick believes Fremantle coach Ross Lyon will attempt to send Connor Blakely to Dustin Martin at some point, it's a card he can choose to play when ready.
- Video duration
- 00:16
Eddie Betts' son shows off his talent
Eddie Betts' son shows off his talent
It looks like Adelaide forward Eddie Betts has passed down his goalkicking skills to his son.
Up Next
It's 'every man for themselves' at Swans
- Video duration
- 01:47
- Video duration
- 01:47
It's 'every man for themselves' at Swans
It's 'every man for themselves' at Swans
The Footy Classified panel says the team's failure to protect Callum Mills as he was bullied by the Blues is symptomatic of Sydney's miserable losing streak. Courtesy Nine Network.
Up Next
AFL and eSports: The unlikely match
- Video duration
- 02:33
- Video duration
- 02:33
AFL and eSports: The unlikely match
AFL and eSports: The unlikely match
What is eSports and why is the AFL interested?
Up Next
Nat Fyfe off to Saint Kilda?
- Video duration
- 00:47
- Video duration
- 00:47
Nat Fyfe off to Saint Kilda?
Nat Fyfe off to Saint Kilda?
96FM presenter Brad Fitzgerald says there is a deal for Fremantle's Nat Fyfe to move to Saint Kilda.
FootyFix: Can the Eagles beat Western Bulldogs?
Rohan Connolly previews all the footy action ahead of round 8 in the AFL.
The 31-year-old guard stepped out of basketball late last year to follow her dream of playing Australian Rules football in the debut season of the AFLW, where she proved the league's best and fairest player while also winning the inaugural AFLW premiership with the Adelaide Crows.
The Wings move could let the AFL step in and offer Phillips a deal to completely turn her talents to football after she became one of the league's most popular players during the AFLW season.
Phillips has since returned to the WNBA where she looked forward to finishing the second year of her contract with the Wings but the club is in the midst of a "youth movement" and opted to keep several younger guards and let Phillips go.
The move has been a shock with Phillips' defence and leadership strongly admired by her Wings teammates.
Phillips was a team captain last season and has won two WNBA championships but the Wings' statement on her release went for one line before a plug for tickets to their first home game.
Under the WNBA rules, Phillips will go onto waivers for a few days which gives teams a chance to pick her up immediately. She will then become a free agent and any club could sign her.
But at this time of year clubs are continuously waiving players to cut down their own rosters which could make it tough for her to be immediately picked up.
Phillips and her wife Tracy and their twins would also have to move cities should she be signed by another club.
So Phillips may need to wait a few weeks before injuries or some other problem makes another WNBA club look her way.
Opals guard Rachel Jarry has also been waived from the Atlanta Dream's roster. Like Opals teammate Phillips she will be hoping another club could need her talents.
1 comment
New User? Sign up